Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 22:11:31 GMT
Subject: VIGIL AT FORTE MURDER TRIAL, KILLER GETS LIFE
From: riki@nyc.pipeline.com (Riki Anne Wilchins)
VIGIL AT FORTE MURDER TRIAL
==========================
KILLER PLEADS GUILTY, GETS LIFE
[LAWRENCE, MA - September 16, 1996]
A DOZEN MEMBERS of the Transexual
Menace, GenderPAC and IFGE gathered
in a quiet memorial vigil outside the
imposing red-stone courthouse in suburban
Lawrence, MA this morning, commemorating
the 1995 violent slaying of Deborah ("Debbie")
Forte.
Ms. Forte, a resident of Haverhill,
MA, was brutally murdered by Michael Thompson
on May 15, who afterwards confessed
to a coworker he had taken her home,
began "messing around", and - upon
discovering she had a penis -
killed her.
Guilty of Murder Two
----------------------------
Activists had sought to
focus public attention on Ms. Forte's
murder both because it was ignored
by mainstream and queer media, and
because of its extraordinary
violence. Thompson had strangled Ms.
Forte, beaten her severely about her
head and shoulders, and then deeply stabbed
her multiple times in the chest and breasts.
Jury selection was originally scheduled
to begin Tuesday, with the trial starting
as early as the following Wednesday.
But in a surprising development activists
outside the courthouse learned that at about
10am EST Thompson entered a Guilty plea
to 2nd Degree Murder, following a negotiated
plea bargain. He was immediately sentenced by
the presiding judge to Life Imprisonment,
with possibility of parole in 15 years.
The plea down to 2nd instead of 1st
Degree Murder was considered possibly due
to the prosecutions lack of evidence of
premeditation, which could have mandated
the higher 1st Degree charge. Conviction
for 1st Degree Murder carries with it a
sentence of Life Imprisonment without
possibility of parole.
Members of Debbie's surviving
family, including her older sister,
emerged from the courthouse appearing
shaken but resolute. They were interviewed
by the press, declaring themselves
satisfied with the conviction and sentence.
Many then stopped by the demonstrators,
thanking them repeatedly thanked for
showing up.
Terrible Violence, But Little Coverage
--------------------------------------
Said a Menace spokestrans,
"The level of almost unhinged violence
in Debbie's murder echoes that of the
recent murders of Brandon Teena, Jesse
Santiago, Christian Paige, and Chanel
Picket. One thing coming out of
these Memorial Vigils is that they are
finally forcing the media to cover these
terrible crimes like they deserve. And this
is one small step in stopping the toll
of gender-based violence."
The event was well-attended by
local media including several gay
papers, 2 regional newspapers, one
TV news show, and a journalist
from the Boston Globe, who -- in a
fortuitous coincidence -- happened
to be inside the courthouse on business,
encountered the demonstration on his way out,
and called the story in to his editor.
The Memorial Vigil had been called by
Riki Anne Wilchins and Nancy Nangeroni, and it
was Ms. Nangeroni, with Mr. Rob Johnson
of Bostons Fenway Community Health Center
(Victim Recovery Program) who handled the local
logistics and planning. Except for some
minor harassment from local police,
the Vigil came off without incident as
activists distributed over 200 leaflets
headed "Transpeople Are NOT Disposable People,"
and others carried signs reading "In Memorium:
Debbie Forte" and "Difference is NOT a Crime
Punishable by Death."
###
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